Last Updated on 12/1/2008

Published on 8/31/2008

By R.G. Greene

rgreene@gtowntimes.com

With Terron Britton carrying the ball, the power run was in play for the Waccamaw High football team on Friday.

Taking snaps at both quarterback and running back, Britton ran for 142 yards and a pair of scores as the Warriors opened their season by upending neighborhood rival St. James 23-21.

Though he found the end zone twice, perhaps Britton's most important run came in the game's final minutes. Getting the call on a third-and-six play, Britton took the handoff and went up the middle for seven yards, picking up the first down and helping the Warriors wind the last 3:15 off the clock.

It was the type of physical style coach Burney Bourne wants to see from the Warriors as they look to take the next step in their turnaround - Waccamaw finished 5-6 overall in 2007, making the playoffs for the first time in nearly a decade.

"Having been at Cheraw, coach Bourne (understands) how to play tough football," Britton said. "If we're going to keep improving, we have to get (more physical). We talk about that a lot."

Throughout the game, Waccamaw mixed its schemes offensively, blending the spread attack with a wishbone set - the quarterback in the spread, Britton moves to running back

in the wishbone with James Williams taking over at quarterback.

The combination proved tough to defend, as evidenced by the Warriors' five-play, 33-yard scoring drive in the second quarter.

Following a 52-yard kickoff return by John Gibbs, Britton found Stephen Canada for a 19-yard gain to set the Warriors up at St. James' 14-yard line. Akeem Point would then gain 10 yards to pick up a first down and, two plays later, Britton powered over from one yard out to tie the game at 7-7

SEE WARRIORS, Page 1B

with 2:30 remaining in the half.

"We feel comfortable when we're in the spread, but we want to be able to use our running ability as well," Bourne said. "Our offensive line is improving and with backs like Terron and Akeem we feel like we can grind out yards and keep the clock moving.

"It's a big step in our improvement process. We haven't always been able to do that in past years."

The Warriors entered Friday as a solid favorite and a sizeable crowd welcomed them to their home field, filling the stands and standing several rows deep in spots along the fence line behind Waccamaw's bench.

But in the first half, the Warriors reverted to some old habits, playing tentatively and trailing by seven at the break.

Challenged at halftime by Bourne, they took the field with a renewed sense of purpose in the third quarter, stuffing St. James' on its opening possession and using Britton's second touchdown run to get within 14-13.

Britton appeared to be stopped near the line of scrimmage on the play, but bounced free and raced 66 yards for the score.

"Everybody thought the play was over, but there was no whistle," Britton said. "I kept moving and was able to get (into the end zone)."

The point after Britton's touchdown was missed, but Waccamaw recovered, its defense forcing a turnover on St. James' ensuing possession.

Taking over near midfield, the Warriors drove inside St. James' 15-yard line and moved ahead on a 31-yard field goal by Luke Ellerbe.

Ahead by two, the Warriors padded their lead early in the fourth quarter with Matt Smith's 20-yard interception return increasing the advantage to 23-14.

"I wasn't happy with the first half," Bourne said. "We were too passive, we weren't blocking and we weren't tackling. The effort wasn't there and I let the team know about it at halftime.

"The second half was much better. We had the kind of determination it takes to win a football game."

St. James' Donald Duncan was the game's leading rusher, picking up 161 yards on only seven carries and scoring on runs of 73 and 58 yards.

Bobby Morris opened the scoring for the Sharks, crossing the goal line from three yards out and giving them a 7-0 advantage midway through the first quarter.

WACCAMAW 23, ST. JAMES 21

St. James 0 14 0 7 - 21

Waccamaw 0 7 9 7 - 23

S - Bobby Morris 3 run (Cyrus Corbett kick)

W - Terron Britton 1 run (Luke Ellerbe kick)

S - Donald Duncan 73 run (Corbett kick)

W - Britton 66 run (kick failed)

W - Ellerbe 31 field goal

W - Matt Smith 20 interception return (Ellerbe kick)

S - Duncan 58 run (Corbett kick)